Attracting & Repelling Magnets
Science: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 5.1.4
Attracting & Repelling Magnets
If you put two bar magnets together end to end, you will feel a force.
Attracting force
- The force may pull the magnets together.
- We say the magnets attract each other.
Repelling force
- The force may push the magnets away from each other.
- We say the magnets repel each other.
Two sides to a magnet
- Magnets have two different sides.
- The different sides are called poles.
- One pole is 'north' (N) and one pole is 'south' (S).
Magnets can repel
- If you put the same poles of two magnets together, they will repel.
- Two north (N) poles will repel each other.
- Two south (S) poles will repel each other.
Magnets can attract
- If you put the opposite poles together, they will attract.
- A north (N) and a south (S) will attract.
Magnets
- Some magnets are coloured to show which pole is which.
- Magnetism works even when something is in the way.
- Try using magnets on both sides of a piece of cardboard. You will be able to move the magnet through the cardboard.
Test yourself on Attracting & Repelling Magnets
What is it called when magnets pull each other together?